Upon coming back to playing professional soccer in his native Brazil, Neymar made debut at Santos FC with a spectacular Player of the Match performance.
The former Barcelona and Paris Saint-Germain superstar came on as a substitute at the start of the second half for his boyhood club Santos in the match against Botafogo SP on Wednesday at the Estadio Vila Belmiro.
Santos took an early lead in the match and held to 1-0 as at the break. Botafogo SP equalised in the second half forcing the match to a 1-1 at full time.
“I love Santos. I have no words to describe what I felt tonight when I stepped again on this pitch,” Neymar said after the game.
The Brazilian star, who was named the, Man of the Match although he acknowledged that he’s not yet in peak physical condition.
“I need minutes, games. I’m not at 100 percent. I didn’t expect to run and dribble so much tonight. I think I’ll feel better in four or five games,” added Neymar.
Neymar, who turned 33 on Wednesday, sealed the move back to Santos on Jan. 31, signing a six-month deal that the club said it hopes to extend through at least the 2026 World Cup.
He won six titles during his time at Santos including a Copa Libertadores trophy in 2011.
